Exclusive: 18% of single Virginians have taken on AI lovers
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Nearly 1 in 4 single Virginians have used AI as a romantic partner, according to Match data exclusively shared with Axios.
Why it matters: It marks a major shift in how people are seeking connection — and even intimacy — in the digital age.
The big picture: This is the first year that the dating platform asked singles nationwide about using AI for companionship, Match communications director Michael Kaye tells Axios.
- And that's because of a surge in AI use in dating (333%) from last year, Kaye adds.
- The data point is part of their nationwide "Singles in America" study, which surveyed over 5,000 people, ages 18 to 98, this year.
By the numbers: Last year, Match reported that AI in dating was still in the early phases, with 6% of single daters using it in some capacity.
- This year, 18% of single Virginians have had a romantic AI companion.
- The number is even higher in D.C. (28%), Atlanta (26%), Los Angeles (23%) and New York (23%).
State of play: Major AI companion apps such as Replika, Blush and Nomi have been around for years, but the business saw a boom in 2024.
- A growing number of women, in particular, are seeking connection and comfort in relationships with chatbots, Axios' Megan Morrone reported last year.
- Rita Popova, the chief product officer of Replika and Blush, previously told Axios she was surprised people started falling in love with their AI bots.
- "People were having really profound, committed relationships."
Case in point: Reddit forums for fans of Replika date back to 2017 and have over 80,000 members.
- In one post, for example, a person took their AI boyfriend to the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort.
Replika didn't return Axios' request for comment about Virginia users.
The other side: Irina Raicu, director of the Internet ethics program at Santa Clara University, said last year that these types of emotional ties to chatbots could weaken human relationships.
What we're watching: Whether the rise in AI companion apps leads to a rise in acceptance, like it did with online dating, or the trend remains far from mainstream.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Michael Kaye oversees communications at Match (not Match Group).